Special Acknowledgements
Special thank you to Dorothy Kennedy-Wassegijig of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory and teaching me about the word “Nootkose” and its meanings; Dorothy was the one who believed in me when I started this journey in Wikwemikong back in 1997. She encouraged me to give teachings on word breakdowns for her community so long ago❤️. Then, inspired me to go to Lakehead University the following summer to get my teacher’s Certificate to preserve our indigenous languages. Now she translates our language for my company as one of our most treasured knowledge Keepers. Her wisdom and knowledge truly are the pillars that keep our language alive today. It’s been my honour to be your friend.
Margaret Pitawanakwat of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory for her and her father’s Ancient knowledge in all dialects and Star knowledge, as well as passing on historical storytelling as he was born in 1899 and passed through the generations his wisdom for all to be remembered. Margaret’s dedication to seeing into other languages the same as my own understanding has inspired me to look beyond towards Middle Eastern cultures and beyond. Margaret and I graduated University together and have always been best of friends, chatting about our words in the Arabic and Hebrew languages with excitement. Miigwech Margaret, for your kindness and friendship ❤️
Patricia Ningewance – Nadeau of Lac Seul First Nation, for showing me good grammar in the Western Ojibwe dialect when sharing your worldview in the many translations you have exposed me to over the last 4 years has shown me the many perspectives found in our word formulas. Your wisdom and knowledge in the sciences have inspired me to connect nature words with modern words in such a profound way to express terminology in an unmatched expertise.
My Legendary Historical work family friends, I want to acknowledge Clarence Whitstone (Plains Cree), Dr. Kevin Lewis (Plains Cree), Hilda Nicolas (Oka, Quebec “Mohawk language”), Mary Nashook (Inuktitut translator), Henry Pitawanakwat (Eastern Ojibwe Translator), Julius Park (Dene Translator), Dr. Jesse Sylvestre ( Dene Translator), Allen Adam ( Dene Translator), Pakesso Mukash (East Cree Translator), Vincent George Georgekish ( East Cree Translator), Theresa Ottawa ( Atikamekw language “R” dialect, Manawan, Quebec), Maggie Putulik- Dicerni (Inuktitut translator) Simona Arnatsiaq ( Inuktitut translator) Diane Gauthier of Batchewana First Nation, Thel Morgan, Dr. Marianne Situ and the Innu-Aimun team from Sept-ils Quebec. You all have been a vital part of my journey and deserve recognition for the preservation of indigenous languages. Not only making history, but serving as role models for future generations.
My Elder Shaketent Teacher, the Late James Carpenter of James Bay, of the Sun Clan, spoke only Cree Language when teaching me the Ancient ways of knowing. I honour your knowledge and wisdom when I needed direction from those long past to give me guidance from above to below on Earth directly from Spirit. Your ways of knowing have helped me heal so many lives, physically and spiritually in the path of the language in the good way of life.
To my late Grandfather Wilfred Owl of Sagamok Anishinabek for teaching me my language and ways of speaking to God, with the example of care to feed all people with no conditions.
To my late Grandmother Joanne Commanda-Frost of Serpent River First Nation, for teaching me the Ojibwe, Nipissing, and Algonquin dialects. Your expertise has helped me in so many ways; you were truly the “Queen” of the North Shore of Lake Huron, and I am honoured to be your Royal descendant in continuance.To my Solomon family lineage of Sagamok Anishinabek, I will honour the Sturgeon clan Ancestors all the way back to King Solomon himself.
To the Sanipass family for your dedication to preserving our sacred stories and scrolls. I honour you, as this road we take is never an easy one to do.
To my parents for giving me passage into this world, you have taught me that hard work, in the preservation of food medicines, and living off the land can be a normal way of being.
My sister Judy Outinen- Perry of Sagamok Anishinanek my closest sister, I couldn’t imagine a world without you. You have been my rock of stability since as far as I can remember; together, we can survive anything.
The late Mary Beaver and Angela Neveau of Batchewana for sponsoring me to get my Fluency Certification at Lakehead University, you both were my high-school teachers and mentors…I remember you both for your preservation of our language.
Leland Bell and Stanley Peltier, and Marie and the Late Wilfred Trudeau, Bob and Josephine Eshkibok, who I lived with in Kaboni, for showing me the Mediwewin ways. I thank you all for you care to me in my journey to preserve our language and ways of knowing.
William Weaver and Kathy Kujala for teaching me how to see pictographs in a whole new light. I thank you for your dedication as an ally to me and all Indigenous people.
Roger Daybutch, the late Richard Chiblow, and the late Connie Morningstar for his knowledge and stories you shared with me while I was in Mississauga First Nation.
To my late professors Viola Shawanda, Dr. Cecile King, Isadore Toulouse, Shirley Williams’Pheasant, all of Wikwemikong…Dolores Wawia Gull Bay First Nation, you all have opened my eyes to the old ways of speaking our sacred stories and dialectic languages. I remember you all, and I am grateful for your knowledge and wisdom of our languages as they shaped me.
Johanna Rowe and her beautiful Momma of Wawa, Michipicoten, Ontario, for giving me historical documents to achieve my research goals; you have allowed me to restore lost stories about our shared pasts; as an Ally, you have preserved the sacred lands of our ancestors in Lake Superior Park. On behalf of my ancestors, we thank you for your lifelong commitment to untold truths and the preservation of Lake Superior Park.
To my Red Lake Minnesota Band of Ojibwe’s family, France Miller, and the Educational team, thank you for your support in this journey I will be home to visit you soon.
To my Lac Simon Algonquin friends and family. Thank you for sharing your language history and traditional trapping ways of living off the land. Your encounters with spirits, demons, and Star beings have inspired me to write another book, which lead me North to discover the Chibougamau territory and people so long ago.
Frankie Beaulieu of Sandy Lake First Nation for working so hard with me; together, we simultaneously translated extreme terms in nuclear energy terminology at Pinawa Manitoba for the benefit of all people’s health.
Fred Jacob of Webique, your dedication is a true inspiration. I am happy to call you brother, you have taught me how to speak OjiCree with such insight into these dialects.
To my friends in Eabametoong First Nation, Lansdowne House, Round Lake’ Caribou First, Kasabonika Lake First Nation, Martin Falls First Nation, Aroland First Nation, East Maine Quebec, Fort Albany, Fort Severn First Nation. Going to high school with you all has made me feel in have friends and family everywhere and that I am never alone, as you all spoke your languages with such intelligence and grace. I honour your friendship always. My brothers and sisters.
Dolly Alfred and her Beautiful Momma Bear of the Witsuwet’in people ❤️ family forever as we made history together, our friendship will last forever.
The late Rita Fineday of Sheguiandah First Nation for taking me into her home and sharing her stories.
Shiikenh Gordon Waindubence of Sheguiandah First Nation for showing my his family traditions; it was truly an honour, my friend.
You will be missed; I will honour the Buffalo skull you pasted to me during your raindances to heal all people.
To the Wikwemikong friends and family, Cynthia Bell and Doris Peltier of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, for allowing me to translate and learn the true history of your people at the Wikwemikong Heritage Organization (WHO office)
My wife, Jennifer Meness of Pikwakanagan First Nation, for managing things while I wrote this book; drawing all my symbols of the feathers and artwork has been a blessing to me in this book; having a support partner who believes in you makes a world of difference.
Pandora Topp of Sudbury/ Montreal, a True best friend, full of Love, knowledge and wisdom… you inspire hope with your endless caring for all. Your talents of Singing and acting on film with words of Wisdom make you the true Wonder Woman of Legend. It’s an honour to have you and your momma Heather as my friends.
Marlene Syrette of Batchewana for caring for my daughter as her own. I can’t thank you enough for your support to me and those I love ❤️ One in a million hearts, you are to me.
To the Dan Pine Sr. families in Garden River First Nation. I thank you for helping me on my journey. Sharing your knowledge, stories and insights were such gifts to pass on.
To the late Connie Mcwatch of Pic Mobert First Nation, I will miss speaking Ojibwe with you and your family. I remember your kindness…and to the elders of Pic Mobert, the Desmoulins, Kwissiwa, and Shaganash families, thank you.
To the Michipicoten First Nation community, thank you for letting me lead your voice in the reclamation of your history ❤️
Curve Lake First Nation a Special Thanks for allowing me to share my translation of your sacred petroglyphs to the world. Your story is one that must be told.
Miigwech.Joel Syrette you were one of my first high school students I taught in the late 1990’s at White Pines. You’ve grown up to be a knowledge keeper, retaining the language of your grandparents; you honour them and me with your dedication to helping others learn our language. You’ve shown me how far one teacher exampling can go the distance, miigwech ♥️
To every student I ever had the privilege to teach in both the high school (Secondary schools) and to my University students. May my lessons and teachings inspire you to continue the Teachings I have handed over to you with passion and perseverance. It’s your turn to break Generational traumas and show the world your true intelligence and kindness to all people, never seeing a colour or race, only the actions on merits.
To my First Nation community of Serpent River First Nation known as Cutler, Ontario…”United, we stand for the betterment of all people who share this land we call Mother Earth. Thank you to the Elders, past and present, who always stood behind me in supporting our cultural ways of being within our small village and on Thunder Mountain (Animkii Wajiw), our most sacred of sites for learning and ceremony. Where I did one of my first fasting ceremonies with elder the late Bernie Jacobs, the late Arnelda Jacobs- Meawasige, “black ash basket Teacher,” the late William Day, the late Frank Lewis (Kijadjiwan), the late Jean Shawana, the late William Meawasige and my great-grandmother Clan Mother to all the children and people of my community, “Agnes Kijadjiwan- Commanda” who set me on the path of towards true knowledge so long ago, always speaking our Ojibwe language at the Commanda store in the middle of the village our home was her kitchen with the wood stove fire, and her generosity and live for all. Miigwech, I remember and honour you all in all that you have shown me, in strength and kindness to others. To the families in my community, the Simpsons / Owl / Pine/ Pelletier/ Sago / Johnson / Johnston / Rickard / McLeod / Coughlin/ Tessier and Southwind families all full of love and care for all.
To the Garden River First Nation families…the Jones/ Perreault/ Boissoneau/ Solomon / Belleau/ Boyer/ Nolan / Sayers/ Soulier/ Lesage/ Grawbarger/ Williams/Roach/ Chief Shingwauk (Pine) and the many family descendents.
Thank you to the Batchawana First Nation families the Agawa’s/ Corbiere/ Nadjiwan/ Sewell/ McKay/ Boyer / Waboose/ Grawbarger/ Buswa / Senecal.
To my Sagamok Anishinabek family, I want to acknowledge the Bennett/ Abitong/ Trudeau / Toulouse/ Pine/ Jones/ Assnewe/ Eshkakogan/ Sissinah/ Owl/ Southwind/ Bob/ Stoneypoint/ Ritchie families/ Francis families ❤️
The late elder Peter Migwans, of M’chgeeng, West Bay…knowledge keeper Elder who would drive out to my family homestead in the deep forest of Wabos, Ontario, to give me traditional feather teachings as his family was connected to mine from his mother, Annie Commanda of Wikwemikong. To all his extended relatives from his home communities between Wikwemikong and M’chgeeng communities, I name the Corbiere/ Debassige/ Hare/ Ense/ Pheasant/ Bebamash/ Shawana/ Simon/ Paul/ McGregor/ Roy/ Fox/ Armstrong/ Migwans/ Peltier / Trudeau/ Webkamigad/ Kaboni/ Beaudry/ Pontiac/ Shawanda/ Shawana/ Odjig/ King/ Wassegijig/ Pongowish / Manitowabi/ Pitawanakwat/ Recollet/ Osawamick/ Mishibinjima/ Mandamin/ Gabow/ Assignak/ Bell/ Wabano/ Ganowabi/ Francis/ Wakegijig/ Wabegijig/ Fox/ Solomon/ Williams/ Eshkibok/ Enosse/ Ominika/ Lewis (Otakwadjiwan)/ Wemigwans/ Bomberry/ Giyash/ Buswa/ Buzwa/ Rivers/ Nadjiwan/ Kimewon/ Abel/ Atawish/ Eshkawkogan / Nahwegezhic to say the least I have met and learned from a great many families on this long road of experiences with each family. The late Josephine Mandamin, who I knew personally, lived near Murry Hill, betweenWiky and Kaboni. She was the advocate for Water walking. A gift to us all from the Creator ❤️
To the late Doris Boissoneau citizen of GardenRiver FirstNation (of the Deer clan originally from Wikwemikong), she and Sam Senecal ( Batchewana Band) and Barbra Nolan ( Wikwemikong/ citizen of Garden River) were inspirational to my early years of teaching as mentors in the preservation of our Anishinabek language at Sault College. Miigwech to you all for all that you do and did to save our language.
To the Mississauga First Nation people, the families of Jackpine, Chiblow, Niganobe, Boyer, Morningstar/ Armstrong/ Cada/ Steven’s/ Daybutch/ Bisson/ Caibaiosai…I thank you all for sharing your stories with me. Miigwech